DANVERS, Mass., Feb. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abiomed, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABMD), a leading provider of breakthrough heart support and recovery technologies, announced today the launch of a new indication and Women’s Initiative focused on heart recovery education and awareness. This Women’s Initiative is in conjunction with the Company’s expanded FDA approval for cardiogenic shock associated with cardiomyopathy, including peripartum and postpartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). Clinical data collected in the cVAD Registry study included PPCM patients under the category of cardiomyopathy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women and causes 35% of deaths (approximately 430,000) in American women over the age of 201. Two causes of death as a result of cardiogenic shock, specific to the female population are PPCM and spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

PPCM occurs during pregnancy or after childbirth and is a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States2. The disease is often difficult to diagnose, with a mortality rate of 10%, mainly driven by cardiogenic shock. This condition can lead to poor outcomes for the infant and carries a high risk of relapse in subsequent pregnancies4,5. Historic hospital protocols prioritized the life of the mother during the cardiogenic shock episode. With Impella support, patients can have minimally invasive therapy and avoid invasive surgeries and severe drug therapy.

SCAD is a spontaneous tear in the coronary artery that may lead to cardiogenic shock or sudden death. SCAD is the number one cause of heart attacks in young women6 and the average age is 427. SCAD often occurs in patients who are active and healthy and 90 percent are women.

Impella® heart pumps offer the unique ability to stabilize the patient's hemodynamics and unload the heart, which allows the muscle to rest and potentially recover its native function. Heart recovery is the ideal option for a patient's quality of life and as documented in several clinical papers, has the ability to save costs for the healthcare system8,9,10.

Learn more about women who have recovered from PPCM and SCAD after hemodynamic support from Impella at www.heartrecovery.com.

In June 2015, Laura Hernandez, 28, developed peripartum cardiomyopathy hours after giving birth to her third child at South Miami Hospital. She required CPR and Dr. Jamie Ghitelman implanted the Impella CP® device to give her weak heart hemodynamic support. Laura was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital under the care of Dr. Enrique Gongora. After 3 days of support she was weaned off Impella. Laura made a full recovery and was able to return home to her family with her new baby.